As good as a bought one - sewing your own vintage clothing

My recent trips to New York City and Melbourne proved somewhat fruitless in terms of vintage-style clothes shopping. In neither city did I find what I was looking for - cute, original, affordable, dance-able and well-detailed vintage style dresses that enticed me to purchase them. Sure, I found a few frocks, but nothing a-ma-zing with a reasonable price tag (and I know such things do exist - I've found them before!)

I think my lack of willingness to splash out on a garment that's just okay rather than utterly delightful is due, in part at least, to the fact that I've been taking sewing classes for a wee while. When I try on frocks in stores I now think to myself "I would have chosen a better fabric. I would have done a nicer hem. I don't think they've shaped the sleeves very well..." It's amazing how even a small bit of knowledge about garment construction makes one incredibly picky. Well, me anyway.

Websites like Retro Age Vintage Fabrics and What I Found Sewing Patterns are filling a niche for ladies who are into VSIY (vintage-sew-it-yourself). Or, if you prefer to touch and feel in person, you can do what I do and cruise the $3-a-metre bargain table at your local fabric store.

Vintage 1940s quadriga cloth available from Retro Age Vintage Fabrics

Gorgeous vintage 40s swing dress pattern from
What I Found Sewing Patterns
(If you buy this can I borrow it when you're done?)

I've already sewn a few basic dresses which have served well on and off the dance floor and cost less than $25 in materials. And in these economic times it just seems to make more and more sense to 'mend, make do, and make it yourself'. That way at least you get exactly what you want (in theory, depending on your sewing skills).

Sure, it takes me about 120 hours of neckache-inducing labour to create a nice dress versus 5 seconds to purchase one from a store, but it sure feels fantastic when an admirer says "I LOVE your dress! Wherever did you get it??" and you nonchalantly reply:

"Oh this? I made it myself." *tosses hair casually over one shoulder and files nails*

"What, this old thing?"
My latest creation - $9 of fabric and Vogue Easy Options pattern V8108

Whether you alter a thrift store bargain, sew from a pattern or create something entirely from scratch, the cliche is true: it really is rewarding to have made it yourself. What was once done out of necessity during hard times in the '30s and '40s is more and more a conscious choice for reasons beyond economics – the cutely quilted and embellishly embroidered worldwide 'Crafting Movement' now going on (see hot new publication World Sweet World for the latest take on crafting for a new generation) cites everything from gender politics to eco-ethics as the motivations for making your own stuff.

My own reasons for VSIY are somewhat less noble: to save cash and to eliminate the chances of someone else wearing the same outfit as me. If it advances women's interests and saves the planet, well that's good too.